PHILADELPHIA – When teams arrive on their respective campuses in August, they organize and set forth a list of goals for the upcoming months. The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team has an opportunity for a major leap in accomplishing one that all of the Ancient Eight strives for: an Ivy League championship.
With a win on Senior Day on Saturday evening against Brown, Penn will clinch at least a share of the Ivy title, its first since 2010 and first under Douglas N. Brush Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke. Kick off at Rhodes Field is set for 4 p.m.
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MATCH DAY 15 – Penn (12-1-1, 4-0-1 Ivy League) vs. Brown (6-7-1, 2-3-0 Ivy League)
Saturday, October 27 | 4 p.m. | Rhodes Field | Live Stats | ESPN+
Series Information
Penn leads 12-11-4 | Last meeting: 2017 (Brown, 1-0 OT)
Penn leads the all-time series, but remains winless in the Nicole Van Dyke-era as Brown has been pesky enough to earn a pair of 1-0 decisions in 2015 and 2017. The two teams drew 1-1 in 2016. The Quakers' last win against the Bears came in 2014, 2-0, at Rhodes Field. Brown actually started the series by winning the first four games and went 5-0-1 against Penn from 1991 to 1996. Then, in the early 2000s the Red and Blue went six undefeated seasons against Brown and then another six from 2009 to 2014.
Ring Chasin'
With a win Saturday, Penn clinches at least a share of the Ivy League title, its first since 2010. Currently, at 4-0-1, Penn has 13 points and is at the top of the table, in sole possession of first place with just two league games left on the fixture list. Princeton and Harvard are next in line at 10 points after the Tigers' 2-0 win over the Crimson last weekend. The Quakers are in control of their fate down the stretch, and you can't ask for more than that. Penn is looking to become the first title-winning team since 2008 to open its Ivy campaign with any result other than a win.
Harvard and Princeton have combined to win 10 championships in the last 11 seasons and the Tigers will have their shot at Penn in the season finale next weekend. This weekend, Princeton travels to Cornell at 2 p.m. and Harvard is at Dartmouth at 7 p.m.
Senior Sendoff
Penn's six seniors will be playing in their final regular-season home game. Romie Boyd, Madison Dawkins, Cami Nwokedi, Sasha Stephens, Kiera Towell and Allie Trzaska have played massive roles in the team over the last four years, helping guide Penn to its 12-1-1 record this season. Overall, the group is 32-16-12 and 10-5-9 in the Ivy League and can help clinch a share of Penn's first Ivy title since 2010 with one more win at Rhodes Field.
National Leaders
Penn has a legitimate shot to play in the NCAA Tournament largely because of its ability to defend. Through 14 games, Penn has 11 shutouts, the best shutout percentage in the country (0.786). Before conceding the equalizer at Yale, Penn went seven games – over 733 minutes – without allowing a goal, and it's been 1,116 minutes since an opponent scored in the run of play. The Quakers also are No. 1 in the nation in goals-against average (0.277) and save percentage (0.927).
Killer Qu(een)
Kitty Qu – a first-team All-Ivy pick last year – is enjoying one of the best seasons in program history between the pipes. In 1,100 minutes, she has eight solo shutouts – Qu broke the record for career solo shutouts with 18 earlier this season – and has allowed just four goals. Her goals-against average (0.33) and save percentage (.927) would both shatter the single-season records in Penn history. She leads the Ivy League in GAA, save percentage and shutout percentage, but her numbers are also comparable to almost any keeper in the country. Qu is third in the nation in GAA and sixth in save percentage.
The Sandstorm
To stay undefeated in Ivy League competition, Emily Sands scored to push Penn ahead of Yale and then clawed home the game winner with under 10 minutes to play for the game winner. The junior now has eight goals – seven serving as match winners – to lead the Quakers. In the four Ivy wins, Sands has game winners in three of them, against Cornell, Columbia and Yale. She leads the Ivy League – and is No. 2 nationally – in game-winning goals, and is second in goals and points.
In the Record Books
Penn's 12-1-1 is the best record at this point in the season in school history. The Quakers 13 points are also the most through five games all-time in Ivy League play.
Close Game Success
Penn has played in seven one-goal games, going 6-1, including 3-0 in Ivy League play. In total, the Quakers have been in six 1-0 games, winning five of them.
Frontrunners
The Red and Blue are now 12-0 when scoring first. Only twice after taking leads has the opponent found the equalizer. Yale leveled Penn at 1-1 last weekend, but Penn battled for the winner in the final 10 minutes.
League Leaders
Penn's 11-game unbeaten streak is the longest in the league … its six-game win streak is also the longest … in 14 games, Penn has scored 28 goals, leading in both total goals and scoring average … its four goals against is also the best … the Quakers have taken the most shots in the league as well, with 224 … Qu leads the league in GAA, save percentage and shutout percentage … Sands leads in game-winning goals … in shots, Sasha Stephens is third with 43, Trzaska is seventh with 40 and Sands is ninth with 39 … Sands is third in points and second in goals … Kelsey Andrews is seventh with four goals … Trzaska is second in assists with six … Abbey Duncan is 10th in assists … Penn's six goals against Delaware State are tied for the most in a game this season in the league … the five against Mount St. Mary's is third-most and four against Navy is tied for sixth … Penn's 29 shots against DSU are tied for the second-most in a game … Paige Howard and Duncan each have five points in a game, tied for the second-highest total in a game in the league.
Previewing the Bears
Brown enters University City below .500 at 6-7-1 and 2-3 in the Ivy League but have managed some huge results. On October 6, the Bears handed Princeton its only league loss, coming back from down 2-0 to win 3-2 on the road. The next week, Brown led Harvard 2-1 before eventually losing 3-2. Abby Carchio leads the team with 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Star White and Rebecca Rosen also have double-digit points.
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